Harness-hames.



J. COMPTON.

HARNESS HAMES. v APPLICATION FILED APR. 13, 1909. 954,499. Patented Apr.12, 1910.

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J. COMPTON,

HARNESS HAMES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Apr, 12, 1910.

' l I Ill l Illlllllllllllffl drawings, wherein rates.

JOHN COMPTON, OF ATCHISON, KANSAS.

HARNESS-HAMES.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that 1, JOHN COMPTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Atchison, in the count-y of Atchison and State of Kansas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness Hames, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The present invention relates more particularly to that class of hamesordinarily employed by fire departments, police patrols, and the like,where what is ordinarily termed quick hitch harness, is necessary.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide anovel pivotal connection between the upper ends of the hames that willpermit said upper ends to be spaced different distances apart, and willalso permit the adjustment of the pivot axis longitudinally of saidhames without in any manner affecting the means for locking the lowerends of the hames together.

Still another object is to provide novel locking means of a simple andeffective na ture, that will automatically secure the hames together,when they are swung into operative position, and will positivelypreventtheir accidental unlocking.

The preferred embodiment of the inven tion is illustrated in theaccompanying Figure 1 is a front elevation of the hames, showing thesame locked together. Fig. 2 is l a similar view, but showing the hamesopen. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a detailsectional view on an enlarged scale, showing the locking means for thelower ends of the hames. Fig. 5 is a hori- Zontal sectional viewtherethrough.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated, the hames are designated respectively bythe reference numerals 6 and 7, and may be of any suit able character,each, however, being preferably formed of a single piece of angle metal,bowed, as shown. The upper ends of the hames have longitudinallydisposed sets of openings 8, and connecting said upper ends, is a hingemember, comprising leaves or ele ments 9 pivoted together, as shown at10. Each leaf or element has at its outer end, an outstanding ear 11,and above said ear, an outstanding curved finger 12, the fingers andears bein disposed transversely of the hames, as lllustrated. Pivotbolts or pins 13 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 13, 1909.

Patented Apr. 12, 1910.

Serial No. 489,670.

pass through the ears 11, and are arranged to be passed through certainof the open ings. Clamping bolts or other suitable devices 14 passthrough other of said openings 8, and through longitudinally disposedslots 15 formed in the fingers 12, each slot 15 being arrangedconcentrically to the pivotaxis of one of the pins or bolts 13.

For the purpose of securing the lower ends of the hames together, thefollowing mechanism is preferably employed. One of the hames, as 6, isprovided with an open ended pocket 16, preferably formed integral withthe hame, while the other hame is pro vided with an integral finger 17that is movable into and out of one end of said pocket, as shown clearlyin Fig. 4. This finger 17 has a downwardly tapered recessed seat 18, anda latch 19 located and pivoted within the pocket, as shown at 20, isarranged to engage in the seat when the finger is in the pocket. Thislatch 19 has an outstanding finger piece 21 that projects from the endof the pocket opposite to that through which the finger 17 enters. Thislatch also has an oppositely projecting lug 22 forming a lower shoulder23. A reciprocatory plunger 24 operates in a socket 25 formed in thelower end of the hame having the finger 17, this plunger being locatedjust above the finger. It is provided with a stem 26 that projects fromthe enlargement in which the socket is formed, the projecting end havinga finger knob 27. A coiled spring 28, surrounding the stem 26, abutsagainst the plunger and urges it into projecting position, as shown inFig. 4. This plunger is arranged to engage beneath the lug 22 when thelatch 19 is in the seat 18, thus positively locking the latch in itsoperative position.

There are a number of decided advantages for this structure. In thefirst place, referring to the pivotal connection between the upper endsof the hames, it will be obvious that the arrangement permits thelengthening of said hames and also allows the distance between them tobe changed. A perfect adjustment can thus be secured and said adjustmentdoes not interfere with the relative positions of the lower ends of thehames, but permits such lower ends to swing in the same are of a circle,regardless of the length to which the hames may be adjusted by the hingeconnection. As a. result, therefore, the lower ends of said hames willalways meet in proper relation to insure the locking action, and this isa feature of great importance. The locking means for said hames also hasadvantages. In the first place, it is exceedingly simple, is entirelyautomatic in its locking action, and cannot accidentally unlock,inasmuch as the latch is positively held in its operative position.However, the hames can be readily unfastened by withdrawing the bolt orplunger 24, and lifting the latch, whereupon the hames can be swung to avery wide open position.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation andmany advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, without further description, and it will beunderstood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minordetails of construction, may be resorted to without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination withhames, of pivotally connected hinge leaves pivoted respectively to thehames and having ofiset slotted fingers disposed and slidabletransversely of the hames, and means passing through the slots forsecuring the fingers and hames against relative movement.

2. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination withharnes, of means pivotally connecting the hames at one end, said meanscomprising pivotally connected elements pivoted to the hames, means forsecuring the elements against pivotal movement on the hames, saidelements being adjustable longitudinally along the hames, and means forlocking the free ends of the hames together.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiiX my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

JOHN COMPTON.

Witnesses Z. E. JACKSON, Cons N. TERRY.

